Steve Bruce has confirmed Aston Villa are close to signing a new player - but the manager refused to be drawn on speculation surround Leicester City forward Leonardo Ulloa.

Villa have tracked the Argentine striker for the last 18 months and it's understood the club has made an enquiry to the Foxes about his availability.

But Bruce wouldn't be drawn on any names put to him out of respect for the clubs Villa are dealing with.

Asked specifically about interest in Ulloa and Leicester team-mate Daniel Amartey, Bruce said: "I think I would love to give you names, but it would be brutally unfair of me to do it. I know everybody likes to listen to the transfer stuff and this, that and the other.

"It would be unwise of me to speak about players at other clubs. We are particularly close to one - not particularly those two who you’ve named.

"Until we’ve got them over the line, out of respect for the clubs we’re talking to I can’t really reveal it. I’ve seen lists and lists and lists. We’ll do one or two, that’s what we’ll do.

"We are getting people back from injury. Of course Kodjia is the big one we’re missing so let’s see what we can do."

Villa are unlikely to move for Swansea striker Oli McBurnie as they check out other forward options.

The Swans have received Championship interest in the forward but will not allow him to leave unless they bring in a reinforcement during January.

(Image: Aston Villa FC)

Boss Steve Bruce said: "Losing Kodjia was a blow to us so we need a new striker.

"We want someone like Keinan Davis, who is big and strong and can hold the ball up, a traditional No.9.

“Of course we’d like a hand but that’s the way we are at the moment and a couple of loan players is what we can look for.”

Bruce admitted that it could take until the end of the window before a signing is made.

After setting their standards high, Villa are now waiting to see if Premier League clubs wrap up their own business before allowing fringe players to leave.

Staying put

Aston Villa will not be selling any of their key players next month, Steve Bruce has revealed.

The transfer pot will still be empty even if Villa manage to move on fringe players to help fall in line with Financial Fair Play.

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But there will be no repeat of this summer where players were sold simply to raise funds, as Bruce confirmed his key players are staying put.

“What I don’t want to do is sell anybody who is a value to us right now,” Bruce said.

“In the summer we had to get rid of players like Jordan Amavi, for instance.

“In an ideal world we didn’t want Amavi to go but the offer was too good for us and it enabled us to do what we needed to do.